Mango Health CEO quits to join Apple’s health team

Apple has made another high-profile hire that could help the company gain a stronger foothold in the healthcare space.

AdvertisementFormer Mango Health CEO Jason Oberfest left his highly-regarded startup last month. At the time, Mango Health only named a replacement but didn’t say where Oberfest was headed to. Now we have news that he has joined Apple as a member of its health team.

Mango Health is an app that helps people take their medication by adding rewards like gift cards and other incentives if they take it when scheduled. Founded in 2012, the company has only raised $8 million in funding to present, but instead of buying the whole company, Apple is just taking the brains.

Boosting Apple’s Health Game

Oberfest confirmed on Linkedin that he’s been hired by Apple.Photo: Linkedin

According to CNBC’s report, Oberfest will look into opportunities for Apple in the medication adherence space. That could make a lot of sense seems how Apple Watch already has a feature that reminds you to breathe. Adding another feature that reminds wearers with chronic illness to take their pills doesn’t seem like a big stretch at all.

Oberfest updated his Linkedin profile to indicate that he now works for Apple. His expertise includes social media, gaming, mobile products and health care. He could also be plugged into some of Apple’s other healthcare efforts. The company did not publicly comment on the new hire.

As iPhone sales have started stagnating, Apple is looking into numerous industries that could be ripe for their iPhone-moment. Augmented reality, virtual reality, health care, self-driving cars, television and other markets are all areas that Apple is reportedly researching for product ideas.

Healthcare could be one of the ripest industries ready for Apple to take over. The company announced earlier in 2018 that plans to open up wellness clinics that will offer the world’s best healthcare to employees. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that improving people’s health will be “Apple’s largest contribution to mankind.”